Christmas is Not About Jesus’ Birthday
"Offensive speech" in the first grade.
Last week, I had the privilege of appearing on Talkline with Hoppy Kercheval. You can listen to the entire interview, but the essence of what I was talking about had to do the State Board of Education giving unfettered right to teachers, principals, etc., to limit, “offensive speech” that is beyond the, “boundaries of socially appropriate behavior.”
My warning – which my opponent scoffed – was that such broad, subjective censorship power will inevitably silence speech the First Amendment – most often, it seems, religious speech – protects. Little did I know what had already happened.
A week or two earlier, a little 6-year old boy in a West Virginia first grade classroom was given the assignment to answer the question, “Christmas is about ______.” This is a long-standing tradition in the rural county in which he lives. The county paper receives the papers, scans them, and publishes them so the whole county can “Ooo” and “Aweee” over the backwards letters and funny quips common to 6-year olds.
But, 3 of these boys got it right. They answered, “Christmas is about Jesus’ birthday.” When they received their papers back, bold, black lines were crossed through the words, “Jesus birthday.”
Now, we need to quickly tell you that the school responded quickly to this situation. It appears that the teacher had heard the ACLU’s drumbeat about the mythical wall of separation of church and state for so long that she was scared that she would be sued if she allowed the answers of her students to stand.
Let that sink in for a moment. We have for so long allowed the ACLU to run so wild over the First Amendment that a teacher actually thinks that the words of a 6-year old could invite a lawsuit. Painful.
One of the mom’s of these first-graders tells the rest of the story:
Fortunately, unknown to him, some adult conversations had taken place. The first graders were told that they would be able to re-write the assignment AND they would be allowed to write about Jesus. Levi’s words to me were that “he has to do it over.”
Hummmm. I know. Not exactly the joy I had hoped for. Doesn’t seem fair, does it, if I look at it from his perspective. For now though, I think I will just sit here and hold him in my lap as long as possible (or, as long as he’ll let me – or, before he no longer fits).
Fortunately, this can be a learning opportunity for us all: Levi, me, the school, and of course, the individual that censored a child’s Christmas paper. It is not my intent to generate hard feelings at all; because I truely believe God has a plan in everything, right? A tough lesson for my little boy, perhaps by hearing about it, you too can be aware of the issues at hand. Remember, it is our constitutional right to free speech (even when you’re only six). Also, it is one of our most basic civil liberties to be able to worship as we choose. Cherish that, please, and don’t ever let your kids forget it.
As for a lesson, well…sometimes adults make mistakes too.
Read the rest at MomsOfFaith.com.
That’s a great perspective for this mother to have. And, she’s right, from his perspective it’s not fair. Even though her son was ultimately allowed to re-write the assignment, it took a trip to the principal’s office for this sweet first-grader to give the right answer about Christmas.
But, let’s not miss the broader point – a point that affects a Christian’s ability to fulfill one’s duty of Matthew 28. What we have seen is that teachers are so skiddish about things Christian that they immediately grab the black marker and think lawsuits when someone else does the talking – even if that speaker is six. In this situation, some first-graders gave the opening sentence that (in childlike faith) begins to explain the Gospel.
What happens when these boys are 14 and finish that explanation?
Look, I know from John 15:18ff that those outside of Christ will hate me and, more importantly, the message of the Gospel. I know that they will consider such a message as abject foolishness – and that is as it should be. And, I am content with that, just as much as I am content, though saddened, if these same people tease my son when he explains the Gospel message.
Nonetheless, it should not be permissible – let alone state policy – to permit anyone to censor speech that they find merely, “offensive.”
This teacher made an innocent mistake – one in which she found herself the victim to decades of false teaching by groups like the ACLU and others. This mom, nor I, despise her for that (and neither should you). Yet, is it really a stretch to go from a teacher scratching out, “Jesus’ birthday” on a first-grader’s paper to suspending a high-school honor student for simply stating, “I am a Christian and I believe that being a homosexual is wrong?”
We are working to make sure that never happens. By next school year, we would like to see the First Amendment affirmed in the state’s laws on bullying. We want to come to your church to talk to you about the rising threats on student religious liberty (email us to book us today). And, we hope to create a brief pamphlet that will help students, parents, and teachers know what the First Amendmnet protects while at school.
Would you help fund our efforts to protect students from teachers – innocently or malevolently – censoring ‘offensive speech?’ Consider making a $50, $100, or $250 gift today by clicking here.
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